why is everyone here so nice?

Question

i didnt know where else to post this topic. the question in the title is obviously meant to be humorous - i for one am not complaining about how nice people here are! i just wanted to point out how this is the complete OPPOSITE from what i've seen in forums for other specialties. for example, my girlfriend is applying to dental school, so she regularly visits medical and dental forums. the people there range from unhelpful to downright mean. when people post their test scores, if they're not particularly high, you'll get 5-10 responses from people telling them to just quit and that they'll never get into any school :roll:

on the contrary, people here seem to be tripping over themselves to offer support to anyone who asks for it. personally, i'm glad everyone here is so nice. it makes for a much better community of posters 8-)

on the contrary, people here seem to be tripping over themselves to offer support to anyone who asks for it. personally, i'm glad everyone here is so nice. it makes for a much better community of posters 8-)

sonny615 · Answer

From the little I've seen here, this place does look friendly. I agree that it is not the most common thing for an internet forum. Obviously, this forum aims for more mature and educated people which results in less pointless (but unfortunately very familiar) internet 'ego wars' and aggression.

bsd_lover · Answer

Good question. I think its because this site tries less to be a "forum" and more to be a "community." Also the moderators are vigilant and enforce the policy of "be nice" regularly. Its certainly quite different from business week forums.

mohater · Answer

I think the main reason stems from what this site is designed to do.

We're not pimping our cars (well we might be, but we're not talking about it).
We're not trying to score deals to flip things on ebay for a profit
We're not looking to capture the next screenshot for failblog or something like that

The only negative aspect of this site is when people are dissatisfied with great scores (680+) and show disdain for such a score. I sure there are many who that think to themselves "I would LOVE to have that score" when stumbling upon such a thread.

Other than that, this site thrives on the individual successes, as that's how others benefit in future. The goal of this site is in line with the goals of the people who post here.

shadow · Answer

true, but the medical and dental forums are supposed to be doing the same thing as this one. however, the quality of posts and information is about the opposite of what you'd see here.

i agree that people in most general online forums are d-bags, but even comparing between pre-graduate school forums, the people posting here seem nicer than others. i do agree with bsdlover's post though

Praetorian · Answer

we just keep the not so nice people out. share what you know and be nice. that is all i have ever asked from members. Unfortunately, the few who dont get it have to leave.

bb · Answer

May I add that we also don't have a personal life since we hang out online on Sat Night?

Praetorian · Answer

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wilbase · Answer

Yeah! people here are so nice. This is such a good forum to learn about B-school and GMAT.

rbriscoe · Answer

It’s very funny but I was thinking the same thing myself as I trolled through the forums. I am amazed at some of the tools people build must have taken immense time and effort and are just offered for free. I really think that the people who regularly contribute to the site do not represent the majority of type A business school capitalist who idolize Gordon Gekko. I think people on this site are genuinely altruistic and generous.

Further the forum offers an opportunity for people to exhibit their ingenuity, intellectual capacity and mastery of the GMAT and to receive praise for their efforts and scores. There is a great deal of social reinforcement on the site and no lack of mutual ego stroking and plenty of primate grooming behavior! I would love to hear “thank you so much and you are the greatest thing since slice bread or awesome score, how did you do it” all day.

Also note worthy is that I have taken a class through a private instructor in Los Angeles named Charles Trent. I have to say the people in the class where also very helpful and generous. In fact a few of still communicate regularly and discuss GMAT strategies as well as study together.

So maybe its this, those of us who need to study diligently because we have to ensure we score in a school 80% average are those that need the most help, if not the most friends. People who are either naturally super intelligent and can close their eyes and score 700+ or those “blue chippers” with their illustrious backgrounds and connections and don’t need help, do not need to be friendly and are thus not on this site!

Just a thought….

mrblack · Answer

I wonder how many people in your MBA class would recognize your GMAT Club handle... It would be funny to write your GMAT Club handle on your name tag on orientation day!

gottabwise · Answer

This is the first forum site on which I've actively participated. I wouldn't bother to log in if attitudes were negative. The reality is that we're all trying to get somewhere. Why not support each other if connectivity and collaboration could lend to reaching desired destinations efficiently and confidently? I am thankful for this site and the collective resourcefulness of members. Kudos to GMC.

Posted from my mobile device

anu1979 · Answer

I just joined a couple of days ago even though I've known about GMAT Club and used the tests while I was prepping for the exam. Just have to say that the title of this post is EXACTLY what has been running through my head-most people seem very even-keeled and mature. When I was prepping to go to law school in the early aughts I used to peruse the law school message threads (it wasn't set up as a message board as such) at Princetown Review and they were incredibly vicious and there were always these semi-hysterical kerfuffles going on. Like the time someone claimed to have gotten into Yale with a 157 LSAT and every thread regular basically rose up and accused the individual of...well, the less I say about the racism the better. Anyway, it all ended up with this person faxing his acceptance to several people and the whole thing was very weird. I did meet a few of my future classmates on it, though, and we started a pre-school yahoo message group.

Anyway, my pre-law school experience is why I stayed far far far away from the gmatclub forums during my whole Round 1 application process.

Anyway, my pre-law school experience is why I stayed far far far away from the gmatclub forums during my whole Round 1 application process.

infanteed · Answer

I agree. This place is so supportive unlike businessweek forum which is full of arrogant people, trolls, and generally people who find pleasure from attacking others.

Keep it up GC

DrSatisfaction · Answer

this forum is simply hands down the best place for information covering everything from finding a career to the GMAT to MBA apps to pre-MBA life to the MBA itself to finding a job afterwards. i told all my friends that they should start using the forums now and it'll cover them until they're out of business school.

i'm actually very glad to have found the wealth of information and experiences people are willing to share on here. a lot of people just disappear after they're admitted into a program. but here, everyone keeps on coming back and build up a network of current MBA students that is so valuable to future students.

thanks guys for making this a great forum. i really hope to contribute more as i work through my MBA next year and afterwards.

sm332 · Answer

Yes yes ... but we still need some people to lay down the law. No spoon feeding!!!!

seekmba · Answer

one thing which is definitely noteworthy about this forum is that the members are intellectual and at the same time down to earth and willing to help others, which is not a very usual combination that one generally finds in people.

Syesha · Answer

i think its only bcoz the precedence set was nice... now when a newbie joins and gets full support, he is inclined to provide support to others in return, even if he is bad mouthing in other forums... u try to help someone back when someone helps u...

asimov · Answer

Question: Why is everyone here so nice?
Answer: I'm deathly afraid that I might get banned.

sidhu4u · Answer

I've started using this site pretty recently (joined a while ago and was dormant) and I'm already getting drawn to this site like no other. I think its the concept itself which is unique, I haven't seen too many other forums that have such great infrastructure, besides having a whole host of great members who actively respond. 
But with all that said, I think what truly distinguishes this forum is the fact that most members here have actually proven themselves and that inspires the new joinees.

why is everyone here so nice?

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